10 Inspirational Graphics About Boarding Up A Door

How to Go About Boarding Up a Door

Protecting vacant investment properties against the elements is attainable by board up a door. It may not prevent every damage however it can help to avoid some of the problems associated with severe storms.

The boarding up of windows and doors will also discourage trespassers and vandals. Installing plywood panels over openings could be time-consuming and costly.

Measure the Door

You'll require a tape measure. You may also want to have a chair or ladder on hand in case you need to see more clearly at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses if you have to make use of these tools.

Start by measuring the width of the door. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to remove all additional parts of the door, like the sweep, when measuring. Then, you can measure the height by measuring from the floor to the sill plate or lintel. It is crucial to measure more than one location especially for older doors, since they may not be an exact rectangle. If the measurements are different then use the largest number.

After you've recorded the measurements of height and width, you'll need to figure out what size boarding you need for the frame. Ideally it should be 2 inches greater than the door's width and 1 2'' higher. This will give you plenty of room to put the door and frame to fit.

It's a great idea to take off the trim or casing around the jambs of the door in order to see the studs. This will enable you to determine the exact distance between the studs of the frame and the edge.

After taking off the trim, take a measurement of the width of your door frame using the tape measure. Take measurements of the frame at three different places and use the smallest measurement. It is also important to measure the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Use the shortest measurement for your door's width.

If you're having difficulty with the measurements, seek out a professional who will come to your home and do the measurement. They'll be able to tell you exactly what type and size of door you need and how to prepare the frame for a new door.

Plywood can be cut into pieces

A door frame is generally comprised of a set of thin boards or studs which create a hollow space surrounding the door. A typical door is held in place by two hinges that are connected to the studs. If you are looking to refinish the door, you'll have to remove it from its hinges overnight. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door opening, a straightforward method for boarding doors is to place plywood into the opening. It is simple to do without having to nail or screw the plywood to the door frame.

Plywood is affordable, simple to work with, and looks fantastic when completed. This makes it the ideal material to provide an interim solution to an issue that requires the removal of an existing door and refinishing or installing a new one. It can also be used to protect the opening of a space being renovated, like a basement or construction site.

For a wall constructed of plywood begin by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Draw the dimensions on the plywood using a utility knife and a drywall square or another metal straight edge. Then, snap the chalkline along each line to indicate where to cut. Utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood to size.

When cutting the plywood, it is essential to protect your eyes and ears. If possible, wear a pair of eye protection and earplugs as you are working. It is also important to use a blade with lots of teeth which will permit you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. Use a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Keep it a hair's distance from the mark when cutting.

A good way to keep the plywood in place without screwing it to the studs is to fasten braces that are short at each end. Place one of the braces on the inside of the door and the other on the outside. Install a deck screws in each hole and tighten by using an open-end ratchet.

Fix the Plywood

It's time to join the frame to the panel once you have the plywood sheet cut to the right dimensions and the holes for rails and stiles of the door frame predrilled. This is a simple project that doesn't require advanced carpentry skills as long as you use the right tools and follow the right steps.

Begin by setting up a table near the doorway with two sawhorses as well as 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Utilize the marks you made during the measurement process to guide you when cutting the plywood. Use a utility blade and a straight edge of metal to cut the lines. This will act as a guide to the saw blade, and will prevent splintering of the plywood when you cut it.

Put on eye protection and cut along the scored lines with a circular saw or table saw with a fine-tooth blade. Then sand the edges of the plywood panel using 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After the sanding, apply a coat of wood sealer to the plywood panels and allow to dry as directed by the manufacturer.

Install the hinges onto the door frame. If you're using T hinges, make holes in the outside of the door to accommodate the strap parts of the hinges. Next, position the hinge's outside face on its spot and attach it to the frame with a screw gun. Repeat the procedure for each hinge on the interior of your door. Be cautious not to tighten them too much, or the door could move.

If you have a single outside T-hinged door, you can make it easier to close and lock using a chain latch by fishing a piece of wire through the loops of the hinges outside. Bend a small piece of tie wire in half, and place it through the two holes on the outside of the door. You can then connect the wires to tighten them and secure the door.

Install the Plywood

Place the plywood into the opening of the door according to the measurements you have taken. Move the frame's header (top) and the sill. Utilize  boarding up property  and make sure that there is no slop between the header and sill. If it's not quite right you can put another shim where is required and repeat the process until you get the sill and the header to be plumb.

Once the plywood is inside the frame, fix it with stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. It's a good idea use a screw gun with an attachment for a hex-head to prevent stripping the head of the screws.

If your home has studs that run along the length of your doorway, it is possible to drill hanger bolts into every framing piece. This is much easier than using a drywall cutting tool to make the hole.

After you have installed the plywood after installation, take measurements of the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, cut your bottom of the plywood to match the height the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1-by-6 as braces for the upper and lower ends. Cut along the lines marked on the plywood with circular blades with teeth that are finely-toothed. Wear eye protection. Splinters can be removed from the cuts by using a sanding device.

Once you've got the braces set, nail each one to the plywood using a pair of 2-inch finishing nails. Counter sink all the nail heads after you've finished. Cover the braces using a high-quality wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane made by Minwax.

If the door is too big for the doorway, you can put in some decorative molding to fill in the gap between the door and jamb or resize the opening. In many instances, it's cheaper and simpler to just find a new door. It also eliminates any issues you might have encountered with your original door in the event that it was damaged or not suitable for the opening.